Questions

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Frequent Questions

The Reliable Controls MACH-System consists of hardware and software products that are technical in nature.
This FAQ section addresses a number of general technical questions and will be helpful to new comers and
veterans alike.

What is the Reliable Controls MACH-System?

The Reliable Controls MACH-System is a computer-based system of hardware and software
products that are designed to control the comfort and manage the energy consumption of
the environment with commercial buildings. The system consists of: programmable
controllers which have inputs and outputs that are connected to sensors and actuators
used to measure and control the environment; network communications to network the
controllers to facilitate sharing data and archiving data; PCs to run the various
software programs used to program, operate and backup the system.

What is BACnet and are your products BACnet compatible?

BACnet is an acronym for the Building Automation Control network protocol standard which
is developed, maintained and published by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating Refrigeration
and Air-conditioning Engineers. The BACnet protocol is simply a set of rules that govern
how building automation data and services can be communicated and shared between competing
vendor products. Reliable Controls has implemented the entire line of Reliable Controls
products are BACnet compatible.

What is peer-to-peer architecture?

All the controllers in the Reliable Controls MACH-System are peer-to-peer on a common network.
This means there is no communications hierarchy between controllers on the same network and
controllers have equal communication ability or are "peers" on the network.

What is interoperability and how does it relate to Reliable Controls MACH-System products?

Interoperability refers to the ability of one vendor's products to communicate with another vendor's
products. The Reliable Controls MACH-System controllers communicate using one proprietary vendor
protocol (Reliable) and one standard open protocol (BACnet). By supporting multiple protocols, the
Reliable Controls MACH-System can interoperate with other vendors' systems.

To what standards and certifications are your products tested?

All Reliable Controls MACH-System controllers are tested to the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard
519 and are certified for use in energy management and heating ventilation and air-conditioning control
applications. The BACnet Testing Labs (BTL) have officially recognized all controllers as meeting the
requirements necessary to bear the BTL mark.
To verify our products visit the BTL Listings website. The BTL designation
means these the controllers are recognized as being 'BACnet compliant' for use in interoperable or
native BACnet installations.

What are the minimum system requirements for the RC-Studio software?

Yes. We offer a full range of temperature, pressure, humidity and current peripherals, which are
manufactured by Automation Components Inc (ACI). We also offer a full range of hydronic valves,
actuators and damper actuators, which are manufactured by BELIMO Air-controls.

What are universal inputs and universal outputs?

All of the Reliable Controls MACH-System controllers have universal inputs and universal outputs.
This standard feature allows inputs and outputs to configured as digital/binary or as analogue/modulating
in software, and allows setup to be changed in the future without the need to purchase different or
additional controllers.

What is the programming language used to write the control strategies in the controllers?

All of the Reliable Controls MACH-System controllers use a very simple and flexible compiled language
for control strategies. The language is called Control-BASIC and is modeled after the popular Beginners
All Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC).

We have jobs that must have the DDC system integrated into other building systems.
Does Reliable Controls offer its proprietary protocol for use in these situations?